Over the years we’ve shared many articles about EVs (electric vehicles). Many of those articles focused on Tesla. And you might have gotten the impression we are against electric vehicles or Tesla in some fashion. If you read the “Fighting for Truth” book, we published a few years ago, you would know we are not against technology, what we are against is people being injured by such technology.
Electric vehicles have been around for over 100 years. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Unfortunately, the electric vehicles of today are far different than their counterparts long ago. And the batteries needed to power these new electric vehicles are bigger. In fact, the average battery weight for an electric vehicle in 2022 is 1,000 pounds. Now compare that to the average gas powered car carrying a 40 pound battery.
Now granted electric vehicles don’t have the engine components that gas powered cars are equipped with, however those huge batteries are a major concern when an accident occurs. You see, if a gas powered vehicle is an accident and fire rescue and/or first responders are called to the scene…the amount of water needed to put out a gas vehicle fire is around 500 to 1,000 gallons. Unfortunately for Teslas and most EVs the amount of water needed to extinguish the battery pack once it starts burning is around 30,000 to 40,000 gallons.
According to Fire Chief Palmer Buck of Austin Texas, “There is not any, at this point, any easily obtainable extinguishing agent on the market to deal with these fires. It all goes back to the way the cars are engineered with the battery pack being at the bottom of the car, and encased in a titanium shell, so you really can’t gain access to it, you just have to sit back and pour water on it.”
So why do we share this information? We share it to give you an insight into the safety concerns of electric vehicle batteries. As explained above, the amount of water needed to extinguish a burning battery is forty times the norm. The lithium, and other metals and chemicals contained in those EV batteries becomes a super-heated deadly mix which makes accidents involving those vehicles extremely dangerous.
In an event an EV was involved in a side impact collision (otherwise classified as a T-bone accident) the battery could indeed be split open, maybe even explode, and the charged lithium and other components spewed over the road and onto other vehicles and passengers. And with more EVs on the road, the chances of being in an accident with one increases every day.
Auto accidents can be traumatic events, but toss in flaming batteries and the injury factor goes off the charts. Broken burns are one thing…but burns caused by leaking batteries and the pain and anguish can be unbearable.
If you have been in any kind of a car accident caused by the negligence of someone else, and were injured or sustained property damage in a car crash in Merrillville, Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Highland, Portage, Valparaiso, or in Lake or Porter County, or any part of northwest Indiana contact our firm for help. We put our experience and resources to work for car crash injury victims throughout northwest Indiana with one object in mind: to maximize your compensation.
If you were injured or involved in an accident, it is critical that you consult with an attorney who has extensive trial litigation experience. If your case cannot be settled, it is crucial that your attorney understand how to prepare your case for trial and how to win your case. Mr. Holub has successfully litigated thousands of auto accident cases and knows how to effectively negotiate prompt and fair settlements.
The Law Offices of David W. Holub is a personal injury law firm located in Merrillville, Indiana, focused on providing efficient and effective client-centered representation. Our mission is to provide top quality legal representation, which includes an uncompromising pursuit of our client’s legal interests, while being accessible and attentive to our clients during times of personal challenge.
The firm concentrates in personal injury cases of all types, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. We work tirelessly to serve each client aggressively and with empathy, to communicate regularly and clearly, and to obtain prompt and favorable results, while adhering to the highest standards of excellence and integrity. Our team considers it a high honor to be called upon to serve our clients whom we often come to regard as our friends. Call our number (219)736-9700 for assistance today.
*If you would like to learn more about personal injury law, we encourage you to listen to our Personal Injury Primer Podcast where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss topics related to personal injury law. And read “Fighting for Truth: A Trial Lawyer’s Insight into What It Takes to Win” an entertaining and enlightening book pulling readers into the courtroom giving them a glimpse of the legal process and what it takes to win at trial.
If you were injured and need to file a claim for compensatory damages, fill out this contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
